Exploring Skin Specificity and Colorism in E.Lockhart’s We Were Liars

Abstract

This research is conducted to investigate the representation of racial color classification in E. Lockhart’s We Were Liar through the postcolonial lens of Fanonian philosophy. The selected novel primarily explores wealth, familial dynamics, and racial themes, specifically through the character of Patil. Patil’s non-white skin juxtaposes him against the white Sinclair family. This research aims to highlight the concepts of racial identity, colonial gaze, and postcolonial body through Frantz Fanon's theory from Black Skin, White Masks, which focuses on the skin color complex and surveillance. This exploration provides a broader discourse on racial identity in young adult fiction to uncover deeper meanings. Previous research, such as Seogijono’s (2018) doctoral dissertation, explores We Were Liars through a psychological lens and examines Cadenece's use of sublimation and repression fantasy to recover her lost memory. In contrast, this research addresses the gaps in Fanonian theory to explore racial and postcolonial themes in We Were Liars. The author uses qualitative methods and close textual analysis to examine the theme of ‘Skin Connects’ through the lens of ‘racial color classification’. It involves a detailed reading of specific passages where Patil’s racial personality is highlighted. Fanon's ideology incorporated comprehensive themes of how skin color affects character interactions and their relationships. This study analyses Patil's emotional challenges through the colonial gaze and racial othering. This Researcher concludes that Fanonian postcolonial narratives advance to understanding of contemporary young adult fiction. It reveals We Were Liars offers valuable insight into racial identity, colorism, and skin specificity in the postcolonial context. The research extends a broader view for future researchers to explore cultural sensitivity and intersectionality of race and mental health in characters.

Keywords: Skin color, Colorism, Frantz Fanon, We Were Liars, Gatwick Mathew Patil, Postcolonial lense.